Download A decent Catholic reading list Fr. John K. Antony

A decent Catholic reading list
Fr. John K. Antony
In the movie, “Shadowlands,” C. S. Lewis asks a student why he reads so much, to which the student replies, “So that we know we’re not alone.” Sharing these books with you is like introducing you to my old
friends. Of course, anyone interested in my reading list already knows they should have read (and continue to read) the Bible and the Catechism, hence their omission from the list. Here are my friends, in no
particular order, lest they get jealous…
Leisure, the Basis of Culture (1952) by Josef Pieper. With all due respect to the Puritan work ethic pervading American society, Pieper argues leisure is the true basis of culture, leading not merely to rest
but to worship. Notice how “cult” lies concealed in “culture.”
The Idea of a University (1873) by John Henry Newman. Newman provides an excellent definition of a
gentleman: “[I]t is almost a definition of a gentleman to say he is one who never inflicts pain.” How
the world would change if all men avoided inflicting pain.
The Road Less Traveled (1978) by M. Scott Peck. Fr. George Tribou (late principal of Catholic High,
LR) loved this book because it begins with the uncomfortable line, “Life is difficult.” Much would be
gained by accepting that one fact.
Crime and Punishment (1866) by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Raskolnikov, the chief protagonist, finds two
antidotes to Nietzsche’s notorious “will to power,” namely, a loving woman (Sonia) and a nagging
conscience. How philosophy’s history (or at least Nietzsche’s history) would have changed if Lou
von Salomé had reciprocated Nietzsche’s unrequited love.
Love and Responsibility (1960) by Karol Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II). In this seminal work the beloved
archbishop of Krakow employs the modern philosophy of phenomenology to show the soundness of
the Church’s sexual ethic. (Yes, it is sound.)
Halftime: Moving from Success to Significance (2008) by Bob Buford. Buford helps people navigate
the treacherous waters of a mid-life crisis by charting a course avoiding the twin temptations of returning to your twenties or entering a monastery. Go figure.
Memoirs: All Rivers Run to the Sea (1995) by Elie Wiesel. The Jewish people are our “older brothers
and sisters in the faith.” Wiesel teaches us how much we can learn from their struggles and successes. Ignoring them is like reading only the New Testament.
The Way of Perfection (1583) by St. Teresa of Avila. The Carmelite saint teaches us three virtues that
constitute the litmus test of authentic prayer: humility, detachment and love of neighbor. Want to
test your prayer quotient? Ask yourself: am I more humble? Do I love my neighbor more
promptly? Am I more detached from material things?
The Great Divorce (1945) by C. S. Lewis. Lewis describes an imaginary bus ride from earth to heaven,
but warns the ticket to board this bus is not cheap. He explains: “You cannot take all luggage with
you on all journeys; on one journey even your right hand and your right eye may be among the
things you have to leave behind.” Ouch.
Orthodoxy (1908) by G. K. Chesterton. Employing his customary rapier wit and wisdom, Chesterton
shares how reason and revelation led him irresistibly to Catholicism. He wrote the book to invite
others down the same path.
Confessions (398) by St. Augustine. St. Augustine is living proof that “every saint has a past and every
sinner has a future.” Take home message: don’t give up on others, and don’t give up on yourself;
you are a work in progress. My favorite line: “Late have I loved Thee, O Beauty ever ancient, ever
new. Late have I loved Thee.”
Utopia (1516) by St. Thomas More. The title “utopia” literally means “nowhere.” More describes the
elements of an ideal city-state, but by calling it “utopia” he implies that it always remains an ideal
to strive toward but never reach. Apparently, King Henry VIII thought England was already a utopia, so the king beheaded More.
A Father Who Keeps His Promises (1998) by Scott Hahn. Hahn highlights his understanding of
“covenant” in a sweeping overview of the Bible, explaining how the covenant evolves through Old
and New Testaments, and eventually expands to embrace all humanity. An excellent introduction to
the Bible, too.
The Divine Comedy (1321) by Dante Alighieri. There’s nothing funny about this comedy, a journey
through hell, purgatory and heaven. Dante is first guided by Virgil (through hell and purgatory) and
then by Beatrice (into heaven). May God send us good friends if and when, “in the middle of the
journey of our lives, we find ourselves in a dark wood.”
Paradise Lost (1667) by John Milton. Milton makes you almost cheer for Satan, who utters stirring lines
like: “Better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven!” But no matter how likeable, Lucifer who says
“Non servium!” (I will not serve!), stands in sharp contrast to Jesus, who came to serve not to be
served. The choice could not be clearer.
Developing the Leader Within You (2005) by John Maxwell. My brother, who introduced me to Maxwell, taught me that being a better leader makes you a better pastor. Maxwell says repeatedly,
“People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.” His endless anecdotes can vastly improve homilies, too. Wait, maybe that’s what my brother really meant…
The House of the Seven Gables (1851) by Nathaniel Hawthorne. This book taught me the meaning of
“daguerreotypist.” Hawthorne is a master storyteller, a keen observer of human nature, and most
importantly, he believes that in the end, love conquers all.
18. Julius Caesar (1623) by William Shakespeare. One line by Brutus will convince you to read this play:
“There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; Omitted, all the voyage of their life Is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat, And we must
take the current when it serves Or lose our ventures.” ‘Nuff said.
19. Humanae Vitae, A Generation Later (1991) by Janet Smith. Catholics are never more counter-cultural
than in opposing contraception. To those who use their conscience to justify contraception, Smith says,
“Conscience is not the faculty by which each man or woman tries to determine what he or she thinks is
moral or immoral; it is the faculty by which an individual attempts to determine what God holds to be
moral or immoral.”
20. Pensées (1662) by Blaise Pascal. For all those who like their wisdom sound-bite sized. One famous
aphorism by Pascal reads, “All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room
alone.” Pascal was obviously a closet Carmelite.
21. Fire Within, (1989) by Thomas Dubay. The best introduction I know to the interior life, integrating the
Gospel with the two great doctors of spirituality, St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross. It doesn’t
get any better than that.
22. The Iliad (ca. 850 BC) by Homer. Helen of Troy had “a face that launched a thousand ships” as poor
Paris found out the hard way. Someday you will meet your own Helen, and the sooner you do, the better
for you, for your Helen and for the world.
23. Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus (1992) by John Gray. Men and women are different, in
case you haven’t noticed. But amazingly, many people don’t notice, expecting men and women to behave
the same. How many unnecessary arguments – and sad divorces – result from a failure to appreciate
these differences?
24. A Tale of Two Cities (1859) by Charles Dickens. The book opens with the memorable first line, “It was
the best of times, it was the worst of times…” More endearing, however, is Sydney Carton, the drunken
derelict, whose superhuman love for Lucie Manette leads him to take her husband’s place at the guillotine
in order to save the husband’s life. The best of times, the worst of times…
John Paul the Great (2005) by Peggy Noonan. Noonan writes as much about herself as John Paul, especially rediscovery her Catholic faith. In chapter seven, “Finding Him,” she lists nine things you can do to
find God, in case you’ve lost Him. Her first suggestion: “Get yourself into trouble…get low, gnash your
teeth, cry aloud, rend your garments, refuse to get out of bed. Be in crisis.” Why? Because “man’s extremity is God’s opportunity.” Smart girl.